Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence

Dry exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum looking at how Modernist architecture was used in India and West Africa.

The show was highlighting a very subtle point about how Britain used this style of architecture after the Second World War to offset calls for independence in colonised countries via funding educational and public infrastructure. This was largely through the work of Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry.

It then went on to show how India and Ghana continued to use this style post-independence and firstly employing Drew and Fry but also encouraged the education of local architects.

The story was told with models, drawings and photographs but it was a complex philosophy to explain in this way.

I did love the section on the design and building of Chandigarh in India and how, as a new modernist city, the architects designed everything from street fittings to furniture for the public buildings.

I also liked the beautiful, illustrated letters between Drew and Fry.

Closes 22 September 2024


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